Drive-in cinema in Belfast to open with Disney classic 'The Lion King'

Pete Boyle, CEO of Let's Go Hydro, will open a drive-in cinema on the Saintfield Road site next weekend. Picture by Hugh Russell

Marie Louise McConville

23 May, 2020 01:00

Pete Boyle, CEO of Let's Go Hydro, will open a drive-in cinema on the Saintfield Road site next weekend. Picture: Hugh Russell

A DRIVE-IN cinema due to open in Belfast next weekend will make its premiere by showing the Disney classic, The Lion King.

The new cinema, based on the Let's Go Hyrdro water park site on the Saintfield Road in Carryduff, will open next Friday with a showing of the family movie at 12pm.

Having pre-booked their tickets, families can then arrive on site and park up to enjoy the entertainment, which will be shown on a massive 10 metre by five metre LED screen.

Ticket holders can also pre-book pizza, popcorn and soft drinks among a host of treats.

The cinema space at accommodate around 200 cars and each car will be charged £24 for entry.

Toilets are available on site and all Covid-19 guidelines will be adhered to with contactless payments, regular cleaning taking place, hand sanitiser available and employees wearing appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Next weekend, four movies will be shown each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

These include The Lion King at 12pm, The Greatest Showman at 3pm, Forrest Gump at 6pm and A Star is Born at 9pm.

Belfast businessman Pete Boyle, who is behind the venture, said the drive-in cinema would become a "stable in our line-up of entertainment year round.

"Customers can enjoy a movie and a novel family experience while maintaining social distancing," he said.

"We are hoping that anything that's aimed at bringing a few minutes of a normal life will be appreciated. As a business we have had to adapt to a new way of life and be prepared for this to continue for quite some time.

"With many facing financial uncertainty and confined to their homes unable to see friends and family because of the virus, we want to provide an entertainment outlet."

He added: "My thought is if you're sitting in the house together, you can ride in a vehicle together, why can’t you watch a movie together?"

Ticket information will be available on the Let's Go Hydro Facebook page